David Grizzle is a member of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is his story.

When he was growing up, David Grizzle hated being poor. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, David launched his career with Continental Airlines, eventually serving as senior vice president of customer experience. He also served the U.S. Department of State in Kabul, Afghanistan, and eventually landed his career in the role of chief operating officer of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization. David admits that as he achieved financial security, like many who make their way out of poverty, his first thought wasn’t about how to help others climb out of the same hole he had.

Sherree and Jim are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Jim Funk describes his family’s commitment to World Vision’s mission to the poor as a “journey, not a race.”  Though the family’s journey that began decades ago has seen various seasons, the Funk family shows no signs of becoming weary.

Lyné and Pat are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

When Lyné Brown and her husband Pat Williams joined high school students from their California church, on a mission trip to a Navajo reservation in Black Mesa Arizona, God used the opportunity to draw the couple into His love for the world. Pat and Lyné prepared their hearts for the trip by reading Rich Stearns’ The Hole in Our Gospel.

April and Kevin are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

April and Kevin Sproles, now raising two preschool-aged daughters, were just twenty-five and twenty-six years old when they traveled with World Vision to Ethiopia for a Vision Trip in 2008. But God had been preparing their hearts—since long before they met each other!—to impact a world in need.

Jen and Eric Wolford are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

When Eric was growing up in Northern California, his family sponsored a refugee family from Laos, with whom the Wolfords shared meals, holidays, and back-to-school shopping. In Louisiana, his future bride was being raised by educators who worked to make sure all the schools in their town were strong, not just those in their neighborhood.

These early experiences were deeply formative for both Eric and Jen.

Sandy and Bob Hoover are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

“So what do you want to do now that Bob has retired?”

Bob and Sandy Hoover were meeting with their financial advisor, National Leadership Council member David Hillard, when he surprised Sandy with this question.

Without hesitating, Sandy answered, “I want to go to Africa.”

Beth and Dennis Weibling are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Beth Weibling recalls, “When I was in high school I watched my mom, who was an RN, get up at the crack of dawn and drive to one of the worst areas outside of Philadelphia, where she’d give out methadone to the heroin addicts living in the community.” Many of these individuals, Beth’s mother explained to her, were then able to go to work and lead a productive life.

Gail and Olin are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Gail Flander Jones was the oldest of seven siblings when her father left the family’s home. As the oldest child in a family that depended on welfare, Gail encountered many well-meaning helping professionals. Unfortunately, she reports, those who were Christians often seemed to care more about her beliefs than her pain.

Robin and Stu Phillips are members of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is their story.

Although she was raised in a family that did not have an active faith, God was faithful to meet Robin Phillips. When she was eleven, Robin’s heart was gripped by two questions, “Who am I?” and “Why was I born?” The search led her directly to Jesus. Reading Jesus’ words, in a “red letter” edition of the Bible, convinced Robin that she was to help the poor and vulnerable.

Julie Razwick is a member of World Vision's National Leadership Council. This is her story.

When World Vision would visit Julie Razwick’s church in Redmond, Washington, inviting church members to partner in the ministry through child sponsorship, she couldn’t resist sponsoring a new child each time.

Though she blamed it on their cute faces, God was planting seeds in Julie’s heart, one child at a time.